Midwestern State vs. Texas Woman's
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 | 7 p.m.
Kitty Magee Arena | Denton, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (9-1, 0-0); Texas Woman's (7-4, 0-0)
Video: TWUAthletics.com  
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: TWUAthletics.com 
 
ON THE COURT
- Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference play Thursday night against Texas Woman's at Kitty Magee Arena in Denton. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
- The Mustangs can match its best start to a season through 11 games with a victory joining the 1989-90 MSU squad which claimed 12 wins in its first 13 games. That's the only other time a Midwestern State squad was 10-1 through the first 11 games.
- MSU can extend its current winning streak to nine games for just the sixth time in school history. The eight-game winning streak is the longest since the Mustangs won 11 consecutive games from Jan. 3-Feb. 9, 2013.
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
- Texas Woman's rallied to win three straight games over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Puerto Rico-Bayamon and Wayland Baptist after taking consecutive home losses to Lubbock Christian and Texas-Permian Basin.
- The Pioneers are 4-3 at home this season also taking a loss to Central Oklahoma.
- Sophomore forward Emily Spector paces the TWU attack averaging 12.3 points while chasing down a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game. Spector has scored in double figures in each of her last six games including a season high of 19 against Texas-Permian Basin (12/6).
- Senior guard Ashley Salazar is the only other Pioneer averaging double figures with 10.5 points a contest. Salazar connects at a 36.6-percent rate from the 3-point line and boasts a season high of 20 against St. Mary's (Texas) (11/21).
- Sophomore guard Kanesha Saygo sports an all-around game averaging 8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
- Beth Jillson is 108-98 in her eighth season as head coach at Texas Woman's  University.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Texas Woman's for the 54th time on the hardwood Thursday night at Kitty Magee Arena.
- The Mustangs own a 33-20 edge in the series which dates back to the 1975-76 season and is 15-8 all time against the Pioneers in Denton.
- Texas Woman's snapped the Mustangs three-game winning streak in the series taking a 66-65 decision on Jan. 19, 2014 at Magee Arena.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State matches its best start in program history through 10 games by improving to 9-1 for the second time in program history.
- The Mustangs remained at No. 15 in the D2 Media Poll for the second consecutive weeks. MSU continues to receive votes in the USA Today Sports/WBCA Coaches' Poll.
- MSU ranks 14th in NCAA Division II in team free throw percentage (76.6) and is 21st in rebound margin (+9.2).
- Senior forward Andrea Carter (Angleton, Texas / Angleton HS)poured in a team-high 19 points on the strength of a 12-of-14 effort from the charity stripe the last time out at Southern Nazarene. She also grabbed six rebounds to go along with three steals.
- Carter rates 19th in the nation with 11.4 rebounds per game and is 19th with  six double-doubles.
- Senior guard Dianna Jones (Hewitt, Texas / Midway HS) knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 15 points while pulling down five rebounds against Southern Nazarene. She has accounted for at least 10 points in each of her last nine games.
- Freshman guard Krishawn Crockett (Humble, Texas / Summer Creek HS) knocked down 4-of-7 shots -- all in the second half -- to finish with a season-high 10 points against Southern Nazarene.
- Senior forward Shambreka Jones (Mesquite, Texas / Poteet HS (Charleston Southern)) was a perfect 5-for-5 to finish with a season-high 12 points while pulling down four rebounds with two steals and a blocked shot against Southern Nazarene.
- Jones ranks 53rd in NCAA Division II with 1.8 blocked shots per game.
- Senior guard Lisa Hampton (Kennedale, Texas / Nolan Catholic HS) needs five treys to move into third passing Julie Lovett (115 3s from 1993-97) and Mindy Myers (112 3s from 1990-94).
 
THE JOHNSON ERA
- Noel Johnson is in her seventh season at the helm of the Midwestern State basketball program.
- Johnson boasts a 99-78 record (.559) while leading the Mustangs to the NCAA Division II postseason in each of the last two seasons including a trip to the South Central Region finals in 2013.
- Midwestern claimed its first NCAA wins taking down Tarleton State and Metro State (Colo.) in 2013 before falling to No. 4 Colorado Mesa in the regional final.
- Johnson led the Mustangs to its first Lone Star Conference championship in 12 seasons claiming the 2012-13 title.
- Johnson garnered Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2012 before earning Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Small College Coach of the Year accolades in 2013.
 
UP NEXT
- Midwestern State plays host to Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.